Week 27---May 29, 2017---ELDER ELLSWORTH AND ME

Elder Ellsworth and Me

My companion Elder Ellsworth is a champion. He always shares his food with me. Also he is an easy going guy. We get along well, and since he sometimes even makes my bed I had to give him a personal shoutout. 

Week 26---May 23, 2017---FREEDOM, HAPPINESS, COMMANDMENTS

FREEDOM

One of the biggest things that I have realized more and more is that when you surrender freedom, the more and more you lose happiness. One example is people that are slaves to a substance. As a youth, drinking alcohol was cool or a good experience, but 30 years later, they are on the street with nothing. The alcohol is their master. The alcohol dictates their decisions, their thoughts, their priorities. 

HAPPINESS

Happiness is dictating your own decision, thoughts, and priorities. 

COMMANDMENTS

Commandments are nothing more than rules to life that are designed to maintain your freedom. But don't take my word and try it out. Pick and a commandment that is found in the scriptures and ponder the implications of a life-long commitment to live it. Live it and be free. The truth sets us free. Free to live, free to experience life, free to love. Let freedom ring.  

Week 25---May 16, 2017---SPEAKING WITH THE FAMILY AND FOTOS

May 16, 2017

SPEAKING WITH THE FAMILY

I got to speak with my family on Sunday. Twas a great experience. Being away from family, I'm constantly reminded that family is everything. I love them, they love me (hopefully) and it's awesome.

FOTOS

My companion let me use his camera to put my memory card in, so I wanted to send all these pictures. They are in no particular order.

1. Saving power by ironing my shirts with my latest mixtape.

2. Me in front of a sign.

3. A part of the city behind me.

4. Strawberry Atole. Super good drink that I'm still not sure what are the ingredients. 

5. Senior Photo.

6. Valle de Bravo days, sitting on the mountain with a view of the area behind me.

Week 24 (Kobe's Week)---May 11, 2017---ALL YOU NEED IS MEXICAN FOOD, ELDER JONES SE FUE, IMAGINE

May 11, 2017

ALL YOU NEED IS MEXICAN FOOD

I had been cheating on my diet the past few weeks and just eating a lot of unhealthy food. A lot of Americanized food. I think this pattern started to take a toll on my health, and I began to get sicker and sicker. For a couple of days I was just drinking water and eating saltines. But a few nights later, a lady offered us some homemade Mexican food. I wasn't supposed to eat it. I wasn't supposed to, but how can you resist a homemade Mexican meal of tostadas, carne, frijoles, and tres leche cake? So, I ate it. Not only was it delicious, but immediately after, my sickness had left. The Mexican food healed this quarter-Mexican-body. Needless to say, I believe more in Mexican food than American food at this point.

ELDER JONES SE FUE (he went)
My companion Elder Jones has now left the area. He has been sent to another area within the state of Mexico, and so my new companion is Elder Ellsworth. He hails from Bakersfield, California (which is pretty hardcore if you know anything about Bakersfield). Elder Ellsworth is a great guy and we are pumped to continue the work here in Polanco and Lomas de Chapultepec. 

IMAGINE

At times I think to myself "What would my life be if all I had disappeared? Who would I be? What would I do?"  This question may seem purely hypothetical, but in reality, we will pass through times in which we will lose things that we hold dear. Money, possessions, friends, family, health.  If we do not face up to this reality now, we will meet these trials unprepared. But if we have the courage and honesty to answer this question now, we will have the capacity to meet these trials. 

What do we focus on? What do we spend our time doing? What do we desire? If we focus on the Savior and desire nothing more than to draw closer to Him by serving God and our fellowman, then we will be prepared. We will not face these moments empty-handed and alone. We will face them with a knowledge that God stands with us. He will see us through. Money will fail us, possessions will fail us, friends and family may fail us, and our health will surely fail us, but God will not. He is faithful. He is sure. Trust in Him the Rock of Salvation. Que bonito (how nice). 

Week 23---May 1, 2017---DRAW CLOSER TO GOD, GOD IS BEAUTIFUL, READ THE WORD OF GOD

Week 23

May 1, 2017

DRAW CLOSER TO GOD
We have been meeting with a family this past month. They are such a great family. They are so humble and desire, more than anything else, to draw closer to God. As we talk with them, we feel uplifted and humbled. 

GOD IS BEAUTIFUL
God is beautiful. All are His children. All are welcome. All are invited. All can change. All can feel of His immense love. I have felt of His love and His presence. He watches over us and is always there. 

READ THE WORD OF GOD
Get on your knees and offer a prayer, serve someone, read the word of God. Don't fight the feelings that soften your heart. Open your heart and let it be filled with the love that is already surrounding you.